Dirt-scraper.



J. MAODOUG'ALL- DIRT SGRAPBB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.

1,105,283. Patented July 28, 1914 Fla; 1

THE NORRIS PETERS CU., r'HUlU-Lll'flu. WASHINGTON, D. C.

JAMES MACDOUGALL, or PHOEINIXVILLE, PEhTNSYLVANIA DIRT-SCRAPER.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28,1914.

Application filed rune .21, 1912 Serial No. 704,988.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LJAMns MAcDoUcALL,

citizen of the United States, and resident of Phoenixville, county of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Dirt-Scrapers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to dirt scrapers and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following.

specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a dirt scraper of the class which is dragged by a horse and guided by hand andintended to have the scoop rotate upon the bail, when discharging its load, with special features of construction whereby the scoop may be allowed to rotate, not only relatively tothe bail but also relatively to the handles, and to automatically reset itself after discharging its load,

My invention consists of the combination of the bail and handles with a rotatable scoop pivoted to the's aid bail and handles upon a transverse axis with capacity of complete revolution about said axis, and locking means for normally locking the scoop to the handles in scraping position and for releasing said scoop from said position when it is desired to permit it to rotate to dump the load; and my invention further consists of the features above specified when the scoop is provided with one ormore prongs at the upper part of its rear end for engaging the ground when the scoop is inverted and thereby causing the scoop to be com pletely rotated or reset into its original scraping position for reengagement with the handles.

My invention also co-mprehends details of construction, which together with .the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a dirt scraper embodying my invention; Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the scraper with the handles in section;

Fig, 4 is a sectional view of the spring for drawing the handles toward each other; Fig. 5 is a plan view of one side of the scraper illustrating a modification of my invention; and Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the same on line mw.

2 is the metal scoop and may be of any ordinary shape, being provided with sides and back and open at the front, and preferably having the runners or rockers 5 on the bottom for manipulating the scoop.

3 is the bailto which the horse is attached and has its rear ends hinged to the lateral pivot studs 4 which project from the side portions of the scoop. The bail is so shaped that th scoop may completely rotate about the points 4. The upper rear corners of the scoop are provided with prongs or projec tions 6 for taking hold upon the ground during the rotation of the scoop for causing it to continue its rotation to right itself after having dumped its load.

7 are the two handles and these are hinged at their forward ends to the pins 4 of the scoop and are drawn toward each other by the spring connection 8. The construction of this spring connection which I prefer is shown in Fig. 4, in which the rods 9, 9,6X- tending from the handles arespring jointed together by a casing 10 secured to one rod and a washer and nut '11 on the other rod, and a coil spring, 12 surrounding the last mentioned rod and interposed between the washer and nut 11 and end of the casing 10. Byadjusting thewasher and nut 11 the tension of the spring 12 may be varied to suit the requirements.

13 are plates secured to the rear end of the scoop and projectlaterally.from each side of the same; and are, moreover, notched as at 14 to receive the handles 7. The upper edges of these plates are beveled as at 16 to act as cams to push the handles apart against the action of the' spring 12twhich causes them to snap into the recesses 14:, and arrest further. rotation of the scoop relatively to the handles. The lower shoulder 15 of the plates extends beyond thebeveled or cam portions 16 so that when the cam portionslo slip upwardly beyond the handles the projecting shoulders 15,will strike the handles and positively arrest further rotation of the scoop andigive full opportunity for thespring12 to pull the handles into the notches 14. When it is desired to dump the contents of the scoop, the handles are pushed apart by hand and thereby release the scoop to permit it to invert itself and dump its load, continuing its rotation, however, until it rights itself and once more engages the handles.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the notched plates 13 are extended rearwardly instead of sidewise and the -handle structure 1 is provided with detents or latches 17 to engage the notches of the plates 13 and said latches are operated by the rods and hand levers 18 in :one direction to release the scoop and by springs 19 in the other direction toengage and hold the scoop against'rotation on'the' handles. Any other means for holding or releasing the scoop relatively to thehandles may be employed if so desired as I do not confine myself in this respect.

ward as is the case where they are rigidly secured to the scoop; and furthermore, with my invention the prongs 6 of the inverted scoop dig into the earth and cause it to antomatically right itself after the dumping of its load and relock itselfto the handles,

which latter have not left the hands of the operator.

I have shown my invention in the form I prefer in practice, but I do not restrict myself to the details as these may be modified without departing from the spirit of'the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dirt scraper, a scoop having lat-- erally projecting pivots at each side thereof, a bail pivotally mounted on said pivots, a

pair of plates secured to the'rear of said scoop and each projecting laterally therefrom, each of said plates having a recess or notch in the extended edge thereof, and also provided with a beveled portion extending from the junction of the top of said plate with the side edge of the scoop, and terminating in said notch or recess, a prong secured to each plate and projecting above the top of the scoop, a pair of handles for said scoop, each of which is movably mounted on one of said pivots and adapted to seat in one of said plate notches, and spring controlled means between said handles for normally holding said handles seated in said notches whereby said scoop and handles are movable qs t er-a. r 1

2. In a dlrt scraper, a scoop havlng lat- .erally projecting pivots at each side there of, a bail pivotally mounted on said pivots,

a pairof plates secured to the rear of said scoop and .each projecting laterally therefrom, each of said plates havlng a recess or notch in the extended edge thereof, and also provided with a' beveledportion extending fromthe-"junction of the top of said plate with the side edge of the scoop, and terminatingvin said notch or' recess, a prong secured to each plate and projecting above the top'ofthe scoop, a pair of handles for said scoop, each of which is movably mount- .ed on'one of said pivots andadapted to seat in one of said plate notches, a rod secured to one of said handles, a second rod se curedto, the remaining handle, and spring means between said rods normally holding said handles seated in said notches.

3. In, a" dirt scraper, a scoop having laterally projecting pivots at each side thereof, a bail movably mounted on said pivots, a pair-[of plates secured to the rear of said scoop and projecting laterally therefrom at opposite sides, of said scoop, each of said plates having a recess or notchin the extended edgether'eof, the lower portion of each plate formingthe notch projecting beyond *the corresponding portion at the upper side of said notch, said plates also provided with a beveled portion extending from the junction of the top of said plate with the side edge'ofithe scoop and terminating at the top of said notch or recess, a prong secured to each plate and projectlng above the top of said scoop, a pair of handles for said scoop,

each of which is movably mounted on one of said pivots and adapted to seat in one of said plate notches, and spring controlled means normally drawing said handles together to maintain said handles seated in said notches, whereby said scoop and handles are movable together.

.In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

JAMES MACDOUGALL. Witnesses:

R. M." KELLY, E. W. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiveeents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

-' Washington, D. G." i 

